Hi, I’m Hilary - though my nickname at school was "Madbox", and perhaps I’m a little crazy to be starting this new adventure when all my friends are talking about retiring! But I love my work, and I have an insatiable passion and energy for everything I do.
My entire career has been dedicated to fashion - running my own international buying office in Italy, sourcing gorgeous fabrics and clothing ranges for wholesale clients around the globe. But recently the pressure to keep prices down often means sacrificing the quality of a garment’s fabric and its construction. Out of my growing frustration with this problem Fabrics by Hilary was born: instead of sourcing increasingly mediocre ready-made clothes, I’d offer the end customer the chance to use lovely, high-quality fabrics and make their own garments - and out of that came Ciao Patterns.
Needing to showcase my fabrics at fairs I asked my long-time friend and master pattern maker, Maria Rosa, to create a wardrobe for me using designs we developed together. The reaction to those clothes was so amazing we decided to turn our designs into a full range of patterns! Everything is developed at our little atelier in Castellamonte, near Milan, where we combine our ideas and styles, and I source the fabrics best suited for each silhouette. Because Maria Rosa and I have very different body shapes, we are our own best models; we rigorously test every garment to ensure the best possible fit and comfort so that whoever makes our designs will look and feel fabulous in them!
“I’m really looking forward to launching our range at Clothkits Friday 26th June from 11am - 3pm”
Tell us about your background and the story behind Fabrics by Hilary?
I was interested in fashion from a very early age - as a child, I used to sneak away with my mum’s best linen sheets to make my own clothes! Armed with a degree in International Business, I landed my first job at an international buying office in Milan. At 28, I opened my own office, assisting clients worldwide in purchasing ready-made garments and sourcing textiles. I worked as the main buyer for the Danish brand Sand and assisted companies like Esprit in Chile and Colombia, helping them source the finest Italian fabrics for their local productions.
How did your career in the Italian textile industry begin?
It started with that first role in Milan. Being in the heart of the Italian fashion industry provided an incredible education. It wasn't just about buying; it was about understanding the supply chain, the looms, the finishing processes, and the deep history behind Italian textile production.
What have 25 years of sourcing fabrics taught you about quality?
It has taught me that quality is not a luxury - it is a necessity for longevity. Genuine quality is found in the raw fibres, the twist of the yarn, and the finishing process. True quality actually makes the sewing process easier and ensures that a garment doesn't just look good when it’s new, but ages beautifully over time.
What does a typical day look like for you?
My days are a whirlwind between the UK and Italy! It involves constant communication between my office in Reading, my warehouse in Wickford, and our atelier in Castellamonte. Whether I am inspecting new fabric arrivals, discussing technical pattern adjustments with Maria Rosa, or planning our next "Sew Along" video or next trade fair, no two days are the same.
What makes Italian fabrics so special?
It is the combination of heritage and innovation. Italian mills are unique because they balance centuries-old techniques with cutting-edge technology. They have an innate understanding of weight, drape, and hand-feel that is simply unmatched.
What first attracted you to Ciao Patterns?
It was the desire to bridge the gap between professional-grade textiles and the home sewing community. I wanted to create a system where the patterns were as elevated as the fabrics I was selling.
How do you approach matching fabrics to patterns?
I always consider the "personality" of the fabric first. Does it have the structure for a tailored trouser, or the fluidity for a bias-cut dress? I spend a lot of time draping fabrics in the atelier to see how they move before we finalise a pattern recommendation.
Do you have a favourite Ciao Pattern, and what do you love about it?
I would say Ciao Gilda. We designed this dress last summer just before I left Piemonte and headed to my summer office in Sardinia. I loved wearing the dress in the light printed cotton voile as the quality was so soft and fresh - great for a hot climate as a beach cover-up. Wearing the dress loose was so comfortable after a day at the beach, and then it was easy to just put the lovely long belt around the waist or hips for a more dressed-up look for an aperitif with friends. I wore the Ciao Gilda dress at the Harrogate fair when the pattern was still in the works (it takes months to correct all the details and prepare the booklet and videos) and sold out of the fabric we’d used for this dress even before releasing the pattern! We had to change the front cover to feature the new alternative fabrics that we’d purchased with this style in mind! We are now proposing lovely light-weight printed linens, beautiful gauzy plain linens, and our exceptionally high quality of cotton voiles and shirtings for it.
Outside of work, do you enjoy sewing yourself? What are you making at the moment?
To be honest, right now I leave all the sewing to Maria Rosa - I love to hover over her as she expertly creates our clothes at an incredible enviable speed! Unless someone invents a 48-hour day, I won’t have any spare time to relax and take up sewing again until we’ve reached the goals that we’ve set ourselves for our business.
Looking ahead, what are you most excited about?
I’m really looking forward to launching our range at Clothkits on Friday 26th June from 11am-3pm, and then heading back to my summer office to relax, get inspired, and gather energy for the exciting autumn ahead when we’ll be launching more patterns and showcasing new fabrics!
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